Thieves

 

I got the dreaded call on Saturday. We hear so much about identity theft and credit card scams so I guess it is my turn. Apparently someone in New York city made a $500.00 cash withdrawal from an ATM with my card. Well, not my card, but with my card information.

It is amazing that it was caught only moments before the bank called. I confirmed that I was not in New York and they promptly cancelled the card. The next time the thief tries to use it, he will be flagged as possessing a stolen card.

And how do the crooks do it? They 'skim' information from the card readers at the service counters where you pay for your purchases. It is a small sophisticated device that fits into the card slot. When it is retrieved later, it contains all the credit card info as well as the secure code, or P.I.N. number. They either sell the information or they press a new card and off they go.

And now the fun begins. I have numerous auto debits coming off my card every month as well as some Internet accounts for online purchases, such as Kindle Books. When I receive my new card in about 5 days, I have to go to each account and change the information.

At least it is only an inconvenience for me, not a $500.00 hole in my pocket.  

Banking Blunder

 

Some obsess over money, some are careful, and others are just plain careless. I have always been the careful variety, earning some, spending some, giving some, investing some, and saving some. When we put our money in the bank, we trust that it is there and we sometimes just forget about it.

 

In one of my bank accounts I have a variety of sub accounts, containing chequing, savings, common shares, class one shares, RRSP accounts, TFSA accounts, and a variety of others dedicated to specific expenses or projects. The list is long and I do not look at it every month when I do my on-line banking. Until a few days ago.

 

I was looking at my TFSA's and it did not look right. I checked and double checked and it appeared to me that I had over contributed, yet something was missing.

 

A few months ago, my bank revamped their joint account structures and the account numbers and passwords were designed to make things a bit more secure. We were supposed to open the various accounts and enter new passwords etc. I neglected to do this for a vital part of my account so nothing of that part of the account was showing up when I logged onto my 'portfolio'. This was pointed out to me when I sat down with my personal banker and made the inquiry.

 

Long story short, everything is now clear, understood, and accounted for, and we are now richer than I thought. Actually, we are not really richer, but the fog in my mind has cleared and I see more clearly now what the reality is. And I did not over contribute ... I am way too careful to do that.

 

Moral: Don't just dump your money somewhere and forget about it.

Progress

I made some progress on several fronts today. I did not work, as in earning an income, and the old axiom held true, that when one does not work, one only spends money. It started at the dentist where I was soaked for a mere cleaning and fluoride treatment. If I charged rates like that I would be a failure in my business. At least I had a hygienist, this time, who was not trained by the KGB. The experience was about as pleasant as a dentist visit could be. Of course, the dentist found more pot holes to fill so my return visit will be at the end of this month. I better have won the lottery by then.
The home inspector was here today to check on all my energy up-grades to see if I qualify for the government rebates that were put there as an incentive to make our homes more energy efficient. My 'Energy Star' rating has jumped from a 51 to a 66. This bodes well and the cheque, apparently, is in the mail. Just to remind me that I am still living in an older home, the most efficient rating is around 81. We have felt the improvement in a more comfortable home as well as a less draughty home. I think 81 would be too airtight and we would choke on our own fumes.
So, what's with the church photo? We took a swing through Lynden Wa. on our way home from Bellingham on Sunday. You can't help but admire this beauty on Front Street.

Money Needs Laundering?

When I was about 10 years old, my mother asked me what kind of birthday cake I would like at my birthday party. I remember saying that the kind did not matter so much (I loved any kind of cake) but I would really, really like to have money in my cake. The reason, of course, is that all my friend's moms did that at their birthday parties. We never had much money, so getting a coin in your piece of birthday cake, even if it was just a nickel, was a thrill.
She would have none of it because, in her words, money was filthy. And, I suppose it was. Her and my dad ran a cash retail business and they handled money all day, so I suppose she knew what she was talking about, and from a purely logical view, she was right. Of course, she could have boiled it, wrapped it in tin foil, or plastic wrap, or wax paper, but no, it just did not belong in a cake because money, probably in more ways than one, is just plain dirty.

She would have sat up and taken notice at the finding today, that 85% of Canadian paper money is tainted with cocaine! Only USA surpasses us at 90%. This is quite shocking. They have tested the money in various larger cities to track where the drug trade centers are. I was thinking that this does not bode well for those of us that like to carry cash on us. What if a random check was done at an airport or at a border crossing and cocaine was found on your money? Could an innocent person be incriminated by this evidence?
I guess maybe it proves my mother's theory correct in a way she never would have thought of. I do know that she would say, "I told you so".